Stratford

Overview

Project Title

At the heart of Stratford, falling within the post-Olympic Regeneration area and a stone’s throw from Westfield Stratford City, the nine-acre Chobham Farm North site has become a major urban development in a rapidly evolving part of East London.

Originally the majority of the site was part of a warehouse complex on the Stratford railway lands and the remainder underused land, LCR started working in collaboration with East Thames (now L&Q) and London Borough of Newham in 2009, with the intent to regenerate this disused site and restore it to full use.

The project forms part of LCR’s wider involvement in the transformation of Stratford, where it has acted as developer since 1996. It is currently delivering four million sq ft of Grade A office space and over 333 new homes for the area through the £2.4 billion International Quarter London (IQL) scheme, in a joint venture with Lendlease.

A complex site

A complex site

A former industrial site, LCR was challenged to convert this complex and disused land into a new family neighbourhood, integrating the existing communities of Stratford New Town with new post-Olympic neighbourhoods.

Working with L&Q, LCR developed masterplan for a series of five development ‘Zones’, designed to enable over 1,000 new homes to be built on the site as well as a central linear park.

Championing collaboration

Championing collaboration

To help Chobham Farm reach its full potential, LCR has worked with multiple partners and stakeholders to transform the area in a logical, structured way. The first phase of development of 173 units has been developed by East Thames (L&Q) and is now known as Prospect East. The second phase of development is being delivered in 2019 by Telford Homes and Notting Hill Genesis and will deliver 471 units built around a modern London square, known as New Garden Quarter. LCR’s latest site sale has been to Higgins Homes to develop 154 units.

By taking a collaborative and strategic approach, LCR was able to obtain outline planning approval for 1,036 homes and 5,955 sqm of commercial, retail and managed workspace. Submitting the initial application in September 2012, approval was granted in February 2014.

Drawing on extensive experience of restoring rail-linked land to full use, LCR’s involvement helped to develop a shared vision of a safe, inclusive neighbourhood which would make a positive difference to new and existing communities, with an emphasis on larger family homes.

Spearheading regeneration

Spearheading regeneration

To date, the regeneration of Chobham Farm has created 453 permanent jobs on-site, delivering £8.8 million GVA to the UK economy. In addition, it is anticipated that the scheme will create 514 additional jobs in the local area, and a further 573 across London.

On a site that has historically carried high risk and provided limited scope for developers, LCR has worked with partners to set in motion a sales programme that will fulfil the original masterplan, enabling phased development to maximise the potential of each planning Zone.

This approach has led to LCR making a significant contribution to the London Legacy Development Corporation’s ambitious housing targets, hitting almost half (48%) of its annual target of 2,161 new homes.

The scheme will also deliver important social benefits for the local community. Boasting family-friendly parks, green spaces and squares, as well as opportunities for local businesses and shops, more people than ever are choosing Stratford as a place to live, work, visit and invest in.

Taking a long-term and strategic approach, LCR has helped to maintain momentum throughout the duration of the project, building a flourishing residential market and a sense of community in a formerly challenging fringe area of the Olympic Legacy.

LCR is continuing to examine how housing development can be brought forward on its remaining interests in the site, to enable continuous regeneration and further the creation of a thriving residential and business hub.